What is the importance of the reservation in the story, This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona?

Victor and Thomas reside on an unnamed Native American reservation, where they were born and raised. All of the reservation’s residents are members of the same tribe. Life on the reservation appears to be defined by economic hardship and generally low morale. Due to a general lack of money and resources, the residents of the reservation appear to be generally sad and discouraged, and this discouragement translates to a lack of interpersonal connection between the residents.